A car like the M3 is clearly an enthusiast vehicle. I am willing to bet that there isn't a single person on the planet that has been cross shopping an M3 and a Toyota Camry. One would think that someone looking to own an M3 would have some basic degree of knowledge about cars/engines, etc. etc. If not, then why the interest in a car like this?

I am not sure I fully understand

Believe it or not. Some people buy cars as status symbols (not saying the OP did) and that is all they care about. It sounds like the OP is just not mechanically inclined and is looking for assurance that he didn't do any harm to his new car. The fact that he is here asking questions gives him a lot of cred.